Table



C. O. LOWE July 29 1924.

TABLE Filed Dec. 29, 192?. 2 Sheets-Shun l WITNESSES lNVE/VTUR GOLOwe,

A TTORNE Y8 July 29 1924. 1,503,195

C. O. LOWE TABLE Filed Deg. 29, 192?. v 2 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSESl/VVE/VTOR (ZOLLOwe,

A TTORIVEYS Patented July 29, 1924!.

TABLE.

Application filed December 29, 1922; Serial No. 609,693.

T ah whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, C IFFORD O, Lown, a citizen ofthe United States, andresident of the. county of Sweet Grass and State of Montana, haveinvented certain newand use ful Improvements in Tables, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My -'nvention relates to improvements in extension tables, and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of the invention'is to provide an extension table which is ofsimplified and extremely strong and durable construction and which isreadily adjustable to vary the size thereof as desired.

A further object "of the invention is to provide in a table of'thecharacter described a novel arrangement for adjustably connectingcomplementary sections of the table top so that the latter will beeffectively braced in its different adjustments without the use ofstationary bridge members or central supports such as are ordinarilyprovided in extension tables.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings,forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a table embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the tablesubstantially along the line 22 of Figure 3,

F igure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table in partially extendedposition, 7

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the table along theline lt of Figure 3, and o Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalview showing a modified form arrangement.

In carrying out my invention,-I may provide a table top indicatedgenerally at T which is mounted upon a frame designated generally F,thus forming a top and frame unit which may be supported at intervals 7adjacent to the marginal edge thereof by legs L. In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated, the top and frame unit is of rectangularshape and is supported in horizontal position at the four cornersthereof by the legs L. The top and frame unit may of slide have anydesirable configuration as will be understood from the following.

'f The top and frame'unit is divided into two complementary sections,one including a section T of the table top superposed upon a section Fof the frame and the other of which includes a section T of the topresting upon and secured to a section F of the frame. The top and frameunit sections are adjustably connected by spaced apart sets ofcooperative slide elements S and S respectively, one of the slideelements of each set being secured to the under side of one of the topsections whil'e thejother slide'element of each set is secured to theunder side of the other top section. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, two sets of the cooperative slide ele ments are provided,the slide elements S of one set being secured to the frame section F andone of the legs L as well as to the underside of the top section T whilethe slide elements S of the other set is secured to the frame section Fa top section T and one of the legs L. The'slide elements S of one ofthe sets is secured at one of its ends to the frame section F while theslide elements S of the other set is secured at one of its ends to theframe section F The respective slide elements and the sections of thetop and frame units to which they are secured are thus substantiallyrigid with each other and adapted to sustain relatively great stressesand to support heavy weights without relative displacement or unduestrain.

Each of the slide elements S includes a longitudinal bar 5 having aportion thereof secured in underlying edgewise contiguous relation toone of the top sections so that the remainder of the length thereofextends beyond the top section ,to which the bar is secured in positionto underlie the other top section of the table. Each of the slide elements S includes a bar member 6 having a portion thereof secured inunderlying edgewise contiguous relation to one of the top sections ofthe table so that the remaining portion thereof extends beyond the topsec-o tion to which secured in position to underlie the other topsection. The relative arrangement of the bars 5 and 6 of the sets ofslide elements is such'that the bars .6 Will be disposed in slidingcontact with the inner proximate sides of the bars 5 when the sec tionsof the top and frame units are ar ranged in cooperative relation asillustrated. Each of the bars 6 is formed with a slot 7 extendinglongitudinally thereof for, the greater part of its length and lying ina plane parallel with the upper and lower edges of the bar and somewhatnearer to the upper edge than to the lower edge -of the latter. Eachslot 7 is in open communication at its end proximate to the free end ofthe bar 6 with an opening or aperture which is of relatively great areaand is provided for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The portionsof each bar extending along opposite sides of the slot 7 therein arestayed to each other by a cleat or reinforcing strip 9 which extendstransversely of the bar and is secured by any suitable means to theinner side thereof. 3

Each bar 5 has the extending portion thereof provided with a pair ofspaced apart oppositely extending transverse guiding and retaining clips10 and 11 respectively. Each of the guiding and retaining clips is subastantially of U-shape and has one arm of greater length than the other.Each clip 10 is arranged with the longer arm thereof secured incounter-sunk relation to the inner side of one of the bars 5 so that theweb portion ofthe clip will lie in the plane of the slot 7 in theadjacent bar 6. The shorter arm of the clip 10 is substantially of thesame outline and of less area than the opening or aperture 8 in theadjacent bar (Sand therefore the clip 10 of each slide element S may bearranged in sliding engagement with the slotted portion of the bar 6 ofthe adjacent slide element S when the sections of the top and frameunits are relatively arranged so that the shorter arm and web portion ofeach clip 10 will be projected through the opening 8 of the adjacent bar6 when the sections of the top and frame unit are moved laterally inrespect to each other. Each guiding and retaining clip 11 is arrangedwith the longer arm thereof secured in counter-sunk relation to theinner side of one of the bars 5 so that the web portion thereof lies ina plane contiguous to that of the lower edge of the bar 5 and alsocontiguousto the plane ofthe lower edge of the bar 6. With thisarrangement, the guiding and retaining clip 11 will be positioned inembracing relation to the lower edge portion of the corresponding bars 6when the sections of the top and frame units have been moved relativelyto shorter arm portions of the clip 10 through the openings 8. Thecleats 9 have cut away portions in their inner faces as indicated at 12and 13 respectively to afford clearance for the guiding and retainingclips 10 and 11 when the associated bars 5 and 6 of each set of slideelements are moved in sliding contact with each other, as when thesections of the top and frame units are moved toward or away from eachother to adjust the size of the table as de sired. It will of course beunderstood that auxiliary top sections or leaves, not shown, will bearranged between the proximate edges of the top sections T and T whenthe sections of the top and frame units are extended beyond the positionillustrated in Figure 1, as for instance to the position illustrated inFigures 3 and at. Such auxiliary top sections or leaves will rest uponthe lapped portions of the slide elements S and S and will be supportedby the latter.

In order that the top and frame sections may not be completely detachedfrom each other through inadvertence when the table is being adjusted asto size, removable angle stop pins 14 may be secured in the bars 6 todepend into the slots 7 adjacent to the openings 8 and in the path ofthe guiding and retaining clips 10, whereby the latter will be preventedfrom passing from the slots 7 into the openings 8. v

lVhen the pins 14: have been removed, entry of the guiding and retainingclips 10 into the openings 8 is permitted and the top and frame sectionsof the table may be com pletely detached from each other for conveniencein transporting or storing the table.

A table having the construction described is extremely strong anddurable and at the same time is readily adjustable as to size. Ifdesired, anti-friction bearings such as the roller bearing indicated at20 in Figure 5 may be arranged between the relatively moving parts ofthe slide elements. Also, the table legs L may rest upon casters, notshown.

Other modifications and adaptations of the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is An extension tablecomprising a top consisting of two complementary sectionsmovablysupported to lie in the same horizontal plane, and a plurality of setsof cooperative slide elements connecting the two topsections, each setcomprising a slide bar. having aportion thereof secured inunderlyingr'el'ation to one of the top sections so that the remainingportion thereof extends beyond the said one top section and acooperative slide bar having a portion secured in underlying relation tothe second top section and an extending portion adapted to slide incontact with the first slide bar, one of said slide bars having alongitudinal slot therein in open communication at its outer end with arelatively large opening and the other slide bar having a substantiallyU-shaped guiding and retaining member arranged with one arm and the webportion thereof extending laterally ofthe second slide bar adjacent tothe end of the extending portion of the latter and in position to bemoved through the opening at the end of the slot in the first slide barinto position to slide along the slot in engagement with the more remoteof the side walls of the first slide bar, and an inverted U-shapedguiding and retaining member carried by the second slide 10 bar at anappreciable distance from the end of the extending portion thereof andin position to slidingly embrace the lower edge portion of the firstslide bar, and a cleat connecting the portions of the first slide whichrespectively extend above and below the slot, said cleat having aportion of the inner wall thereof cut away to afiord clearance for theproximate portions of said guiding and retaining members.

CLIFFORD O. LOWE.

